• Animal cruelty early, abusive adults later • Maybe try Kaua‘i • Coquis are cool • Start an investigation • Check your assumptions • Lingle supports education Animal cruelty early, abusive adults later Earl Simpson, the former caretaker of “Kipu,”
• Animal cruelty early, abusive adults later
• Maybe try Kaua‘i
• Coquis are cool
• Start an investigation
• Check your assumptions
• Lingle supports education
Animal cruelty early, abusive adults later
Earl Simpson, the former caretaker of “Kipu,” the slain pet pig, is right when he says that something more needs to be done to protect local pets (Pet pig case similar to O‘ahu crime, TGI, Nov. 13).
Both the cases of Kipu and of “Porky” illustrate an appalling lack of compassion and respect for life. These two beloved family pets were slaughtered right in front of their owners, without remorse for the cruelty inflicted on the animals or the mental anguish it caused their caretakers.
Allowing such cruelty to go unpunished sets a dangerous precedent because people who are insensitive to the suffering of animals are more likely to be insensitive to the suffering of people. Study after study has shown that juveniles who are allowed to torture and kill animals without repercussions often grow into adults who are abusive to people. In the case of Porky’s killers, it comes as little surprise that the suspect is on probation for a kidnapping conviction and even has pending weapons charges.
Kaua‘i County prosecutors should take available measures to protect the animals and people in the community by filing animal cruelty charges against Kipu’s alleged killers. And Hawai‘i’s legislators should join 42 other states in passing a felony animal cruelty law to allow charges more appropriate to such serious and vicious crimes.
Dale Bartlett
Deputy Manager, The Humane Society of the United States
Maybe try Kaua‘i
Aloha Wally,
I will respond to your letter (Maybe try Kansas, Letters, Nov. 13) not because I feel a need to defend myself or to justify your insult, but rather to defend the point I was trying to make.
Yes, we make a choice to live here. In my case it was to move my family nearer to my mother who has resided here for many years. As surprising as this may be for you to understand, it is hard to live in this beautiful place for a multitude of reasons, lack of convenience is just one of many. I know that I speak for many of us living and working in this amazing place that the majority of us work harder than most to make a living here. We lack many conveniences that those of you on the Mainland enjoy.
My letter was aimed at those who are quick to blame the citizens of this state for their voter apathy (if you had read my letter carefully and maybe a bit more objectively, perhaps you would have understood my intent). In our hometown, polls opened at 6 a.m. and remained open until 7:30 p.m. to accommodate the working-class folks who were unable to leave their workplaces during the day. As for placing blame on the tourists, again, my intent was to reiterate to the “powers that be” that our roads are choked with traffic. It is a constant source of frustration here for the residents as well as the tourists, especially those trying to make it to the airport on time (kind of like me trying to make it to the polls on time). If you lived here, perhaps you would also know that it is a topic of never-ending discussion and complaint aimed at our local leaders.
I’ve been to Kansas, Wally.
No thanks for the invite. Perhaps you should move here instead and have a right to voice your opinion about what we, the residents of Kaua‘i experience on a daily basis.
Sheri Newman
Hanalei
Coquis are cool
Dear county council members and everyone else on Kaua‘i,
Please do not harm the coqui frogs. What did they ever do to harm us? All they do is play their cute little song at night. My mom and I researched them on the Internet and I have heard them sing. I think they are super cool. Do you know they actually come out of their eggs as frogs not tadpoles? They eat spiders, so with them around we probably won’t get bitten by spiders.
Devon Hartsell (age 8)
Lawai
Start an investigation
In Monday’s Forum, Mr. Jim Holbrook of Koloa alludes to his belief that there was some voter fraud in last Tuesday’s election. I certainly hope that he has presented his facts to the FBI and the State Elections Department, this cannot go uninvestigated.
Oh, by the way, I used to be a devout Republican until I woke up. I now vote for the candidate whom I believe is most suited for the position. And, about that word “mandate,” isn’t that what George Bush claimed when he won the last election by 50 percent? Please keep us informed about the results of this investigation. Thank you.
Robin Voorhies
Kapa‘a
Check your assumptions
I continually find it disturbing to read letters based on the writer’s false assumptions. Case in point was the recent harangue against the publication of the cartoon depicting Bush in a graveyard. The assumption on the part of the writer was that this cartoon was somehow intended to be humorous. Political cartoons can make a statement that is far more powerful than an entire column and often have no humorous intent. I am quite sure that Ed Stein was dead serious (no pun intended) about his comment on Bush and his messed-up war.
On a similar note another letter stated that the recent election was hardly a “mandate” because so many races were close. Yes, there were close races in which Democrats prevailed, but most were in states that had recently voted overwhelmingly Republican and the swing in votes between this and the previous election was astounding. This is no more a mandate than when Bush was “selected” with less than half the votes, but it certainly is a statement that the American people are finally beginning to wake up. With the possible exception of Chicago, the assumption that it was dead Democrats who made the difference would appear rather naive.
Nonetheless, I am sure The Garden Island will continue to publish such letters in the interest of free speech and our common amusement.
Robin Clark
Kalaheo
Lingle supports education
Governor Linda Lingle’s track record of supporting education is unparalleled.
Hawai‘i’s public schools annually receive over $2.2 billion. The governor has approved more than $600 million that will be used over the next two years to repair and renovate public school campuses. Lingle has consistently pushed for 90 cents of every education dollar going into the classroom, rather than funding the central bureaucracy on O‘ahu.
Additionally Lingle proposed legislation to provide teachers with bonuses for filling difficult teaching positions and suggested methods to facilitate getting more college graduates into the teaching profession.
Many teachers supported her re-election efforts because Lingle has focused attention on the importance of improving student success. A recent letter to the editor claimed the opposite and suggested the governor use her campaign funds for education funding. I would point out that state laws prohibit candidates from redirecting campaign donations along the lines suggested by the writer.
Lingle has not only put money into the schools, she will work, over the next four years, to make sure it is spent on the students in the classrooms — exactly where the funds belong.
Linda L. Smith
Senior Policy Adviser to Linda Lingle
